Fantasy Insider: Best of the rest, others to avoid at Transitions

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Tiger Woods' return to golf has become a (welcome) rite of spring. Or at least late winter. As juiced as we are about him teeing it up at Augusta National in three weeks, fantasy teams are only as good as their next tournament, so keep your head down.

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Don't worry, I'll lay out Woods' impact in a special feature when it is more timely. All fantasy formats will be given their just coverage.

As a teaser, my premise might surprise newbie fantasy gamers and certainly casual golf fans. Until then, we must address this week's Transitions Championship at Innisbrook.

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TOP PICKS: See Power Rankings for Bill Haas, Vijay Singh, Steve Stricker and Charlie Wi.

Luke Donald -- In his first tournament as a father, he posted a respectable T26 at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship, where he didn't execute terribly well or, well, terrible. This is his first go at the Transitions since 2003. Copperhead shouldn't give him much trouble though. He's first in scrambling, sand save percentage and three-point avoidance on TOUR. When par is your friend, those are relevant nuggets. With D.J. Trahan's withdrawal on Tuesday, I'll post-insert Donald into my Power Rankings.

Zach Johnson -- Crazy that he leads the TOUR in birdie average, ranks fourth in ball-striking, 17th in greens hit, sixth in putting and 13th in the all-around ranking, yet has failed to record a top 10 in five starts. Unfortunately, although he's still a valuable fantasy own, he's overrated at the moment.

Kenny Perry -- It would be fair to argue that he's banked the quietest $323,030 on record. Over 64 percent of that was earned at the season-opening SBS Championship, which helps rationalize his disappearance. That said, he's never finished lower than T30 (2008) in six starts at Copperhead, where he has four top 20s. He's first on TOUR in total driving and fifth in birdie average, so there's plenty of gas in the ol' tank. Bona fide sleeper this week.

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TOP PICKS: See Power Rankings for Stewart Cink, Padraig Harrington and Charles Howell III.

Retief Goosen -- The 2009 champion had missed the cut here in his two previous appearances, and I'm cool on him again this week. He bit me where the sun doesn't shine at Pebble Beach and remains a better long-term own, but given that he's defending this week, Yahoo! gamers are all but forced into a push here.

Sean O'Hair -- In the right place at the right time in 2008 when Stewart Cink handed the trophy over. Until Sunday, that was a brutal week for weather. O'Hair missed the cut here in 2006, 2007 and 2009 when conditions were considerably more favorable. Sorry, but the '08 crown was a fluke. He can only be overrated this week.

Derek Lamely -- Welcome to the big time, rook! Copperhead is the site of his first payday on the PGA TOUR, when he placed 71st in 2008, ending that effort with an 82. Before breaking through in Puerto Rico on Monday, he capped off his Honda Classic with an 80. Toss in the guaranteed emotional letdown and it's a recipe for a deserved week off in fantasy formats.

Geoff Ogilvy -- Given the value of par, Copperhead is a natural venue for the Aussie, who ranks a predictable 10th in putting. He's entered just once in the last four years, finishing T10 in 2008. Superb Yahoo! start this week. Really.

Jim Furyk -- Frankly, he's just not flashing any consistency for me to confidently plug him in. He went 1-1 at the Match Play and his T20 at the Sony Open is his best finish in three stroke-play starts. It's still early but his ball-striking and putting numbers are higher compared to a year ago. Finished T52 here last year after opening 65-78.

Dustin Johnson -- This is an encouraging commitment. After missing the cut here in 2008, he rested a year ago, opting for a start in Houston (MC) as his only primer for the Masters (T30). Last week's T56 was a disappointment, indeed, so that he's getting back on the horse immediately and not waiting until Houston to turn it around in advance of the first major is a positive. However, in terms of his fantasy value, since it won't be a slogfest this week, there are better place to burn a start on DJ. Abstain.

Brian Gay -- Has never missed this event, and has a pair of top 10s (2006, 2007), but he's overshadowed in this field. Despite my early-season hope, it's safe to say that nothing has changed in what to do with him. Just wait until the Heritage.

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See Power Rankings for Mathew Goggin and Justin Rose. [NOTE: D.J. Trahan withdrew on Tuesday.]

Ian Poulter -- First-timer at Innisbrook. Went through the motions in his first three rounds at Doral before turning on the jets, literally, with a 64. He had a date with an Orlando Magic home game on Sunday night, which fuels theorists that believe that the Brit needs his mind to multi-task to an extent to allow his body to just play. Yahoo! gamers might want to plug him in on Thursday since Poulter's cagers have a roadie in Miami that night. Can't imagine that he'll make the trip south, but a date with an HDTV is likely. Call it my "opening tip."

Brandt Snedeker -- Has faded from our consciousness since that dreadful 78 on Sunday in Scottsdale. Finished T50 at The Honda Classic where he had an uncharacteristic four double bogeys. It wasn't so much his ball-striking at PGA National as it was a forgettable effort on the greens. Better avoid until he works it out.

Rob Bolton is PGATOUR.COM's new fantasy columnist. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the PGA TOUR. To contact Rob, please e-mail him at FantasyInsider@charter.net.